10 Holiday Shopping Tips To Help You Keep Your Sanity

The holidays are here! I don’t know about you but I love everything about the holidays! I love the sights, sounds, smells, and the shopping! I’m an avid Black Friday shopper, and I love finding the perfect gift for my family and friends. With all the wonderful things about the holidays, there are some stressful things about it. Beating the crowds, setting a budget, and keeping your sanity during a very busy time of the year can be hard. So I thought I would share with you my 10 Holiday shopping tips to help you keep your sanity! Follow these simple tips and throw in some of your own for a fun, and stress free holiday!

Here are my 10 Holiday Shopping Tips to help you keep your sanity:

1. Don’t wait until the last minute! I know we are all pressed for time as it is and finding time to squeeze in some holiday shopping can be difficult, but the longer you wait, the more stressful it can be! The later you shop the busier it is, the messier the store, and the less chance that they will have what you want in stock. Try to pick up a couple of gifts at a time earlier in the year so you won’t be so overwhelmed when the Holidays get here!

2, Set a Budget! Did you know on average people who don’t set a budget spend $250 more than people that do? No matter what your budget is, know it before hand. This will help you decide how much to spend on each person, and it won’t have you staring at a maxed out credit card invoice and give you a bad case of buyers remorse.

3. Price Match! Almost every major store will price match their competitors. This can cut down on the amount of stores you have to visit! Make sure if you are going to do this you check your stores policy on price matching and bring your ads to the store with you!

4. Shop at the right time! We all know how awesome Black Friday is but it’s not the only time to save! The week of Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas are also the best times for great holiday deals!

5.Shop with Gift Cards! If you have a tendency to over spend, buying gift cards with a set amount of them before hand can really help. Once the money is gone, it’s gone!

6.Go Homemade! Making a gift from the heart will not only save money (and time) but it will be something the recipient will love and cherish!

7.Support Small Businesses- Shopping local is great because you can get something that you can’t get anywhere else, helps your local economy, and you can save money. I love shopping local!

8.Don’t forget about Cyber Monday! If the crowds of Black Friday make you sick, then why not shop at home in your pjs and still save a boatload of cash on Cyber Monday? You will find a lot of the same deals that were in stores, and maybe even some better ones!

9.Put it on Layaway! Do you have a big gift you want to get someone but you don’t want to pay for it all at the same time? That is what layaway is for! Put your items on Layaway at the beginning of the season and pay a little each week, then pick up in time for Christmas. Perfect!

10. Remember what the season is really about. I know it’s easy to get caught up in the crazy commercialized aspect of the holidays, but don’t forget the real reason we celebrate. Family, faith, and love!